Tag Archives: Traveling

In the Game of Clue, players must solve the mystery of who killed Mr. Boddy, what they used to commit the crime, and where this occurred. A similar version of these three questions is something that gluten-free folks are used to finding out.

Who prepared the food?

What utensils did they use?

Where did they prepare it?

When I dine out, I’m always sure to remind the server, “They cannot prepare my sandwich on the same counter,” or when I’m at Chipotle, “Could you please change your gloves? I am gluten free.” These are comments that MUST be made in order to ensure safety and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

I figured we’d have some fun and make a gluten-free version of this classic detective game because that’s what we all need to be – gluten-free detectives! When dining out, there are different places one can be glutened and there are different weaponsof contamination. No matter who did it, where it happened, or what caused the contamination, the end result is always the same – the victim is glutened.

Gluten-Free Game of Clue: How was I glutened?

If dining at a restaurant that serves both gluten-filled and gluten-free food (which is just about every restaurant we can eat at), the opportunity to be glutened is everywhere. The key to a safe dining experience for a gluten-free individual is Read More »

With the recent announcement of the merger between American Airlines and US Airways, it seemed a good time to discuss how to be gluten free while traveling. Based on my customer service experience, it honestly might be preferable if US Airways didn’t save American from their financial crisis. Being gluten free is challenging even with the many dining options we have on land. If one restaurant doesn’t work, you can always hop in your car and try another. Take us up 30,000 feet into the air and we may be in for what will feel like a very long trip with very few options, if any at all.

Does being gluten free change the way I travel? Absolutely. There are some things you should take into consideration before hopping on your next 757 to make sure you are prepared. The lesson I learned from traveling with American Airlines? Pack some snacks or starve.

I found that the flight attendants were ill-equipped to deal with gluten free needs. Here was my experience with American Airlines on a flight from LAX to DCA on December 29, 2012: Read More »

A plethora of gluten-free foods can be found when traveling in Europe. Photo Credit: Jen Harris

It has been a month since I returned from our European vacation. We visited many cities in Germany, Brussels, Belgium, Paris, France, and Prague, Czech Republic. By far the best place to shop for gluten-free groceries was Berlin, Germany.

It is important to know how to say gluten free in the appropriate language just in case you find someone who doesn’t speak English. In German, gluten free is pronounced glutenfrei (gluten fry). I have to say that English must be the second language in Germany because there was rarely Read More »

When we went on our trip to Europe I wanted to be realistic about what gluten-free foods I brought with me. I didn’t want to be in a situation where I had little to no food options, but I also didn’t want to bring my entire pantry with me, so I managed the situation by packing my favorite ‘staple’ items that did not need refrigeration.

I don’t know about you, but I tend to eat totally differently when I am traveling than I do at home, so I pack items I know will keep me full between meals and in place of meals. I also pack something sweet because that is usually the Read More »